Half a Million People Experience Food Insecurity in British Columbia, Says New Report Northern British Columbia Especially Vulnerable

TORONTO, August 31, 2016 — Almost half a million British Columbians experienced some level of household food insecurity in 2011-2012, according to a new report from PROOF, a research group based at the University of Toronto.

Drawing on data from Statistic Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey, the report finds over one in ten B.C. households struggling to put food on the table in 2011-12. Families with children under the age of 18 were at an even greater risk of food insecurity, with one in six B.C. children living in a food insecure household.

http://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Priority-Health-Equity-Indicators.png388300Adrienne de Candolehttp://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/KFP_logo_print_full_flat-300x180.pngAdrienne de Candole2016-09-06 13:21:052018-05-18 02:53:09New report on food insecurity in British Columbia

The Kamloops Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is intended to guide the planning and implementation of transportation improvements over the next 10 to 20 years. Between now and 2035, our population is expected to grow from a population of 86,000 to 120,000. At the same time, the City has committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has set transportation related sustainability targets.

Public input is essential to ensure the final Transportation Master Plan is created and supported by community members and is adopted by Council.

So much of the work in advancing local food policy is about relationships, partnerships, and collaborations across multiple sectors. A critical first step is to begin to reach out to people and develop relationships. Is there a community dietitian in your local health authority who can help connect you? Is there a food policy council you can get involved in? Find your entry point. That work can feel long and slow but it is building the foundation of relationships which is what this work ultimately comes down to.

http://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_20180428_094911.jpg31204160Adrienne de Candolehttp://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/KFP_logo_print_full_flat-300x180.pngAdrienne de Candole2016-03-30 18:03:542018-05-19 02:24:54“Downtown at the Market” Feasibility Study Public Open House

The Real Estate Foundation has a wonderful grant program that funds many food security/sovereignty projects across the province, so it was an amazing opportunity to tell them about what we need here in the Interior’s food system!

Kamloops, BC– The City is working on a Food and Urban Agriculture Plan and wants to hear from you.

What is the Food and Urban Agriculture Plan? Urban hens, farmers’ markets, community gardens, virtual food hubs, composting, edible landscapes, gleaning, backyard sharing, community kitchens, gardening techniques that conserve or reuse water, and much, much more – come on out and share your ideas on anything to do with local food and urban agriculture.

There are several ways to provide input on the plan:

Attend an Open House:

These events will feature activities, informative posters, online and hard copy surveys, live music, and local food demonstrations.

· Saturday, January 31st, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at North Hills Mall near the Extra Foods entrance. Entertainment will be provided by Johnson Sandwich.

· Saturday, February 7th, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, at the lower level of Aberdeen Mall. Entertainment provided by Margit Bull.

A Kamloops-exclusive, Chef David will be participating in a Black Box Food Challenge at the Open Houses. Audience members will choose from a selection of black boxes that hide locally-grown food items. Chef David will then have 20 minutes to prepare a gourmet dish with this mystery item and share with audience members. Learn about local food production while watching the sweat on the chef’s brow as he tests his talents to beat the clock.

Contact Your Community Association:

We want to meet with you where you are. If there is an interest in providing input into the Food and Urban Agriculture Plan in your neighbourhood, please discuss with your community association and ask that they contact City staff to arrange a meeting.

Complete the Online Survey:

Go to the City’s Food Security webpage at www.kamloops.ca/letstalk and click on the on-line survey link. Leave your name and contact information to be added to the stakeholder contact list, and entered into a chance to win one of four $150 gift certificates from the garden centres at Art Knapp or Lyons!

The public engagement phase for the Food and Urban Agriculture Plan will run through the end of February. More information on the plan can be found at:www.kamloops.ca/foodsecurity.

To further strengthen the governance of the Kamloops Food Policy Council, a strategic plan is being developed. This plan articulates who we are as an organization, what we wish to accomplish, and how we wish to undertake our tasks. This document will provide a general guide to our organization for the next 5 years. In addition, it will provide the context for more detailed annual plans which will guide our activities on a year to year basis.

The KFPC board has drafted a Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals for our organization. Now we need to hear from KFPC members. Are we on the right track? Did we leave something important out?

Please review this document kfpc_strategic_plan_nov14_draft and provide comments by email to dave.whiting@shaw.ca by November 28. It is the intent of the board to bring a strategic plan to the membership for approval at a general meeting in 2015.